Yep, that's what they look like. Aren't they hilarious?
Look what I found this morning! Better pics to follow.
Look what I found this morning! Better pics to follow.
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
karimwassef
Active member
Woot!
They look like a caricature or cartoon fish... Wild!
They look like a caricature or cartoon fish... Wild!
Angelina Jolie…that's some imagination you've got there, Sam!
Since the silicate dosing, I've noticed most of the little traces of cyanobacteria have gone. Though I did find a new spot, up on the fake root. Weird. I decided to remove the bio pellets (bacteria factory) from the canister filter, and replace them with bio balls (nitrate factory).
I dosed potassium nitrate today, no iron. I want to see if this alone takes care of the leaf yellowing. If not, I'll try magnesium.
Got a few more pics of Spot. I will give the wife's camera another try, but for now these are the best I got with the iPhone 6+.
Since the silicate dosing, I've noticed most of the little traces of cyanobacteria have gone. Though I did find a new spot, up on the fake root. Weird. I decided to remove the bio pellets (bacteria factory) from the canister filter, and replace them with bio balls (nitrate factory).
I dosed potassium nitrate today, no iron. I want to see if this alone takes care of the leaf yellowing. If not, I'll try magnesium.
Got a few more pics of Spot. I will give the wife's camera another try, but for now these are the best I got with the iPhone 6+.
sam.basye
New member
Lol, it's those lips! I recently watched a movie with her in it and the connection was made when you posted that close up.
The iPhone pics look great! Way better than the previous phone.
I meant the wife's camera for the blenny pics. Might get better close up clarity with it that you iPhone can't capture.
Are you able to sex the blennies? Not sure if there's a difference. But it would be interesting to see who is more dominant and the gender personalities.
The iPhone pics look great! Way better than the previous phone.
I meant the wife's camera for the blenny pics. Might get better close up clarity with it that you iPhone can't capture.
Are you able to sex the blennies? Not sure if there's a difference. But it would be interesting to see who is more dominant and the gender personalities.
Oh yeah, it's the lips. I see the resemblance now. Maybe I should change the name to Angelina! Junior has moved a little further away from the anemone. I'll try the food-lure thing again.
As far as I know these blennies are not sexable. Given their encounter yesterday, I'd bet those two are males. I had hoped they'd all live in the barnacle shells together, but I guess they need more space. Since the other one came over and challenged him there, I suspect this is the prime spot, where only one alpha male can reside. Funny, having nano tank-like scenarios in my 180!
As far as I know these blennies are not sexable. Given their encounter yesterday, I'd bet those two are males. I had hoped they'd all live in the barnacle shells together, but I guess they need more space. Since the other one came over and challenged him there, I suspect this is the prime spot, where only one alpha male can reside. Funny, having nano tank-like scenarios in my 180!
Took a few pics with my wife's Nikon D90. Tried two different lenses. No better than my iPhone pics. I'll try again. I think I could get better pics with it, if I do some studying. I think I need to turn off all auto features and manually adjust everything. I'd love to get some really pro-like pics! It doesn't help that the anemone is moving in the current and the shrimp is in constant motion as well. It's like trying to get a good shot of a flower on a windy day. I'll try turning off the pumps next time…
OK, now we're getting there…
Thanks Sam. I'm getting there. Those last ones have weird color, from the flash I think. I took some more without flash and got more natural color, but I didn't get a really tight focus. I did get a good blenny close up. Here it is:
I don't know if he's avatar material, but it's pretty good.
I don't know if he's avatar material, but it's pretty good.
karimwassef
Active member
OK, now we're getting there"¦
Need a video now. Are the light and dark areas on the tentacles shadows from surface ripples or actual coloration?
Yes a video would be cool. I'll look into it. I shot some video of the blenny encounter. The shrimp is constantly moving around the anemone, like he's still getting acclimated to it. Those light and dark areas are the coloration, however the flash kind of took it overboard. It's much more subtle than that. I took some more without flash and it's much better. Still working towards that money shot, with accurate coloring and really tight focus.
karimwassef
Active member
nice...
I'm getting there. Out of 58 pics, those two were the best, and they still could be better focused. I pulled out D90 user manual this morning. Stay tuned…
Here's another from the batch of 58:
These little guys really do typify the expression "living jewel". It would be nice to get Junior
on the anemone as well. On the sand bed he's all but invisible. It takes a while to find him,
even with a magnifying glass. I tried to lure him over yesterday, with a piece of shrimp I
was feeding the anemone. No luck-he was spooked and moved away. I'll try scallop next time…
These little guys really do typify the expression "living jewel". It would be nice to get Junior
on the anemone as well. On the sand bed he's all but invisible. It takes a while to find him,
even with a magnifying glass. I tried to lure him over yesterday, with a piece of shrimp I
was feeding the anemone. No luck-he was spooked and moved away. I'll try scallop next time…
I haven't posted yet in your thread, but I've been lurking, and just had to chime in to say that I love your setup. I grew up in FL swimming in seagrass beds and mangrove forests around Miami and the keys, and your tank is the closest thing I've seen yet to my memories.
I've always dreamed of doing something like this but haven't had the time, resources, or space to ever do it, but I'm glad to see that someone has done it and has such a beautiful example of it.
I like the ideas of the dwarf angel harem (I love paired/grouped fishes), and I wouldn't expect you to see them make much of a dent in the macro algaes. Since you have the DSB you could always look into pearly headed jawfishes as well, a fun Caribbean species.
Such a nice setup for something totally different than most people are going for. Thanks for sharing!
I've always dreamed of doing something like this but haven't had the time, resources, or space to ever do it, but I'm glad to see that someone has done it and has such a beautiful example of it.
I like the ideas of the dwarf angel harem (I love paired/grouped fishes), and I wouldn't expect you to see them make much of a dent in the macro algaes. Since you have the DSB you could always look into pearly headed jawfishes as well, a fun Caribbean species.
Such a nice setup for something totally different than most people are going for. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, ReefWreak, for posting. I really appreciate your comments! Coming from someone who's actually swam in the areas I'm modeling with this tank, is a huge compliment!
I agree, the cherub angels probably won't help much cropping the macros. After removing so much caulerpa last weekend, I'm again leaning towards getting an atlantic blue tang for that. I'd love to keep jawfish, but I think they're just a little too timid and shy to keep up with the other fish I have planned, at feeding time.
It's nice to be reminded that I am doing something totally different. I forget sometimes!
Please stop by again. I'd love to hear more suggestions of caribbean species. Any great memories/ideas from your swims?
I agree, the cherub angels probably won't help much cropping the macros. After removing so much caulerpa last weekend, I'm again leaning towards getting an atlantic blue tang for that. I'd love to keep jawfish, but I think they're just a little too timid and shy to keep up with the other fish I have planned, at feeding time.
It's nice to be reminded that I am doing something totally different. I forget sometimes!
Please stop by again. I'd love to hear more suggestions of caribbean species. Any great memories/ideas from your swims?
karimwassef
Active member
Jawfish are not timid once established. I've got a dusky and he has the biggest mouth in the tank! When it's feeding time, he'll accelerate from his hole to the top of the tank in one second, eat as much as he can and bolt right back!
After a few more, his belly is literally distended. Makes me wonder how he fits back in his hole.
After a few more, his belly is literally distended. Makes me wonder how he fits back in his hole.
I've not kept the dusky. They seem to be the tough guys of the lot. I'm glad to hear yours is doing so well. I have kept the yellow head and the blue spotted jawfish. Both great fish and I enjoyed them a lot, but they eventually starved, due to shyness at feeding time. I imagine if I introduced them first, they might survive, but having kept them once, I'm ready to move on. In my opinion, they're best chance of survival is in a species tank, though it sounds like the dusky is the exception.
